US cost of living · official BEA data

Compare the cost of living across 387 US metro areas

See how prices and estimated salary equivalents change between locations using official 2024 US Bureau of Economic Analysis data.

Figures represent metropolitan areas, not individual neighbourhoods or city boundaries.

Chicago, IL is approximately 8% cheaper than New York, NY, using New York, NY as the comparison base.
New York, NY
112.6
Chicago, IL
103.6
Estimated salary equivalent based on regional price levels
in New York, NY
A salary of $100,000 in New York, NY has approximately the same purchasing power as $92,007 in Chicago, IL, based on regional price levels.
In plain terms: Chicago, IL is cheaper than New York, NY, so you’d only need about $92,007 there to match the lifestyle $100,000 buys in New York, NY same groceries, same rent level, same everyday spending. That’s ~$8,000 less you’d need to earn, not a step down.
Before tax. This estimate does not account for individual spending habits, household size, taxes, childcare, healthcare, transport choices or personal housing circumstances.

Chicago, IL housing rents 25% lower (112.0 vs 148.6).

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Official BEA data · No signup · Updated annually · Metro-area estimates

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